Low reactance switching device



J. E. HAYES? 2,325,854

LOW REACTANCE SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 51, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 3, 1943.

J. E. HAYES LOW REACTANGE SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 31 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if. EDMUND AYEs xi, knfm jvui/v role.

Patented Aug. 3, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 7 2,325,854

LOW REACTANCE SWITCHING DEVICE John Edmund flayed Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application January 31, 1942, Serial No. 428,992 9 Claims (Cl. 175-183) This invention relates to a switching device.

More particularly, the device of the present invention is a low reactance switch for use at high frequencies, and it finds its most valuable application in the radio art when the impedance of an external circuit is to be determined.

In determining such substitution method, which entails the use of a well-known decade resistance box and therefore, brings into play undesired reactances particularly at higher frequencies, mitigating appreciably against the accuracy of a test. To the best of my knowledge, this method is considered as being unsatisfactory at very high frequencies. 7

The switch of the present invention renders unnecessary the use of the usual decade box and departs to such an extent from the prior practice that the reactances introduced are for present practical purposes negligible.

The switch of the useful in determining the'impedance characteristics of an external or unknown circuit for difierent selected oscillations or frequencies.

The objects of the invention, generally, are to I have proved by satisfactory and acceptable.

A particular object of the invention is to so construct the switch that spaced, calibrated elements, which,

for a known frequency. More particularly, the device so operates that for agiven or selected frequency, an easy and convenient comparison may be made between the reading on a measuring instrument of the impedance of the external circuit with the reading obtained from a standard or known circuit.

In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures, I

Figure 1 is a side view of 'a switching device present invention is also very.

made in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is an end ing broken away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, grammatlc, view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the device view of the device, parts bemore or less diareactive components.

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of the switch, connected to modified circuits.

Referring now by numerals to the drawings,

particularly to Figures 1 to 3, which show the preferred structure of the switch, D is a drum of insulating material comprising two spaced discs I!) and ll and an intervening portion or spacer l2 of reduced diameter. The peripheral edges of the discs IUand II are formed with aligned circular notches or recesses 2 l A into which are slidably received elements E, such as resistors, capacitors or inductors, so that the elements preferably may be removably held on the drum. The drum is rigidly mounted on a shaft, which as shown, may comprise two aligned shaft sections l4 and I3 threaded into opposite faces of the drum. Preferably, lock nuts [5 are threaded on the shaft sections, respectively, to engage the adjacent faces, respectively, of the drum D.

The shaft is journalled in brackets 35 secured to a base l8 of insulating mat rial, as by bolts 20. The drum may be rotated as by a suitable knob l6 rigidly secured to the shaft section I 3.

The element used maycarry ends of its shank S, members adapted to fit into the notches. Conveniently, and as shown, the notches are formed to allow part of the contacts to project outside the periphery of the drum discs.

The elements E, more particularly the end contacts C, are successively brought into contact or electrical engagement with spaced, parallel, resilient metallic switch arms 2| suitably anchored to the base [8 as at 22, the arms being depressed or flexed toward the base when an element is in engagement with the arms. If preferred, (though not shown) points may be To releasably lock the drum with any one of j "are connected inseries by a 21, in the length of which;

' merits E'l' vhichiare resistors) v H thearms: Z1 as inFigures 1, 3 and 4 (or iII'CGDr;

while the otherpoint, term na as-bv r armsij are-clearer" any resistor" Efthey engagei gwith' the points sisters B, will vary according to the value of'the 'circuiting the arms.

provided with a plurality of evenly-spaced and circularly-disposed recesses or cavities 3E3, preferably spherical in shape, there being as many cavities in each disc as there are element-receiving notches 2lA. (Jo-operating with the cavities in each disc is a ball t! held in a circular, aperture 33 through the adjacent bracket, and pressed against the disc by means ot a spring 35 anchored atone end'to the bracket and formed at the other or free end to engage and exert a pressure" against the ball. As the ball lodges inav cavity] the drum is held against rotation until the force applied to the drum to rotate the same is such asto urge the ball out of thei'cavity againstjthe pressure of the spring. In order that the drum may be releasably locked in position to have anelement E in contact, or; out of contact, withthe;

' oresaid, theholesti are in staggered relationship.

'In the circuit shown in Figure 4, the arms 2 suitable conductor 7 are, a suitable. oscillator. OSand asuitable ammeter A. When the drum is'in such a position that one of the eleis incontactjwith.

feet with pa ts, if'any are used), there obtains a, circuit as .iollows: Oscillator, conductor. ZLZone or" the arm'sjif," the reslstorE, the other arm 25,

ill, the measuring instrument the conductor h and'thefoscillator, One of the the conductor 2?,

' points, is connected to one terminal, Tl, oi

the external circuit,

by means of a conductor 25 ,v 23 is connected to V the. other conductor When 'the 40 T23 and the. circuit nowthe. following: terminal Tii'fconductorfltyone of the points 23, one of thefar'ms ii, the conductor 2?, tl'lefoscillatcr'jthe conductor? Z'L'the measuring instrument; the conductoril, the, other arm?! I} theother'point 23, the conductor 25,1the terminal Tl an'd terminal T2: l I l "The operation 'oiithe'switch'when' associated with the circuitgs hown in Figure 4 is as follows: Theresistors Ejusedare of graduated, kndwn 50, values, and are disposed consecutively on the drum in the order of their values, their ends or contact imembers C projecting beyond, the pe-l riphery of the drum D. The points ZS'are connected tojtheterminals If! and T2,

"The drum is next rotatedinte'rmittently to bring the elements or resistors, one by one, into engagement with thearms 2t (or the points-onj the arms, if any are used), whilethe instrument,- or more particularly the needleo-r pointer, is kept 60 under observation. .The position of the needle" Will'be constant when the circuit through the element is broken; that j is, while the" arms zi I engage the points 23; whilethe position of the needle, when thecircuit includes one of the reresistance of the particular element thensh'ort When ,theineedle occupies a constant, or substantially constant position, on the dial of the instrument, the resistance orvalue of the element E ncw-in'engagement witl1-the, arms 2i is n'oted; The value of this particularelement will be a measure 'ofrthe impedance or the circuit under test; In the event that the impedance of the externalcircuit should be in 7 determined byv 1 denser is inserted in series '1 'andiihercsistance component 7 the settings'of the condenser and the switch, *respectively;

' ,Wherethe switchv sparallel across 7 v the vacuum tube. type being used. as measuring; instrument or indicator, all. asshown in Figure.

) or inductors.-

" engagement with-said termediate between the values of two successive elements E, the exact value of the impedance is noting the relative positions of the meter needle and from this making the necessary interpolation. 7

7 When it is desired to determine the resistive and reactive components of the impedance of the external circuit, a calibrated variable conwith the circuit, as It. is preferable to, insert a shown in Figure 5;

the condenserin order suitable coil in series with to allow the circuit to be tuned to resonance for all types of external or unknown circuits. As will be clearly understood, the reactance component are obtained by This cirquitis V tory in measuring low values of resistances, in

' therange'o-f from 0 to about 500 ohms and'the reactances, associated with;such resistancesr 'If desired, the,variable condenser and coillmaybe inserted in. series with the conductor 25.

I to be used in measuring external circuits. having. resistive. components of say. up to. aiew thousand. ohms, a calibrated con; denser and. resonance. coils may bef arranged'ih the.v conductors 21,, a, voltmeter; oi.

6." Th'e, resonance coilszare not' calibrated but,

they are foundto be necessaryto, allow the Incas; uring circuit to be, tuned1,toresonance. inf the. range'of' from 5000 to- 20,00'Ofkilocycles. Ede; sired, the variable condenser and the; resonance. coils may be connected in fparallel ,across the; conductor 25-,25; a

' In thecircuits shown, the elementsVEare-resisto'rs' and generallvjtheuse of resistors ifs, satisr ctor owev r m r a n i u ts;i 'mi ht.

" bef desirable toemploy' capacitors] or inductors,

in lieu of resistors. As

7 V 'will clearly be seen, the switch of the presentinvention is, such. that-the elements" used may be either resistors, capacitors Thearms 2t andipoijnts 23 andthe conductors 25-26 -2l-are-made as short; as may be con- 1 i 'mini ize. ei ea tance w ich. suchelernents may giverise during the operation: of'thedevice' i: o

The s'witch 'offthe present invention is also usefulin determining theiinpedance of an'funrknown or external circuit fordifferent gfrequelnciest r lclaimi 1 V l.- In a device for "determining the impedance;

of anexternal circuit; in combination; a" conductor including two spaced metallic members and contacts for-said members in; the circuit; a

plurality of spaced calibrated-"elements, and? means ior selectivelybring-ing saidelements'into' members-tobreak the cir cult between said' members and said? co-ntacts whilecompleting-the -circuit bysh'ortcircuiting; throughtheelements. L j i '2. 'In'adevice for determining the-impedance; of an external. circuit; in combination, a conductor-' including two spaced metallic-members and contacts; for-said members-in the circuity a measuring instrument and an'oscillatOn-inseries f with-saidconductor; aplurality ofspacedcalia brated elements, and means for selectivelybringi s df elemen s in o nga t t sa d...

. members to break the circuit between SaidmeIn-j ;-v

h rs., n aidicqn a swh mpletine'a uit' especially useful and satisfac in which said oscillator, measuring instrument and element are in series.

3. In a switch, a pair of spaced switch members and contacts therefor in the circuit to be controlled by the switch, said members being normally in engagement with said contacts, a drum mounted to rotate adjacent said members, and a plurality of calibrated elements mounted on the periphery of said drum and circumferentially spaced therearound to engage said members one at a time to move said members away from said contacts, theelement being adapted to form a conductor between said members to complete the circuit by short-circuiting through said element.

4. In a switch, a pair of resilient switch arms, contacts normally engaged by said arms, a drum journalled to rotate adiacent said arms, calibrated elements mounted on the periphery of said drum and circumferentially spaced to engage one at a time said arms to move the same away from said contacts, the element being adapted to form a conductor between said arms when in engagement therewith, and a detent device for releasably locking said drum against rotation when any of said elements is engaged with said arms or disengaged therefrom, respectively.

5. In a switch, a pair of spaced arms, contacts for said arms normally in engagement therewith, a drum mounted to rotate adjacent said arms, calibrated elements mounted on the periphery of said drum to project beyond the periphery thereof and circumferentially spaced around the periphery of said drum to engage one at a time said arms to move the same away from said contacts, the element being adapted to form a conductor between said arms when in engagement therewith, and a detent device for releasably locking said drum against rotation when any of said elements is engaged with or disengaged from said arms, respectively.

6. In a device for determining the impedance of an external circuit, in combination, a conductor including two spaced metallic members and contacts for said members in the circuit, a plurality of spaced calibrated elements, and means for selectively bringing said elements into engagement with said members to move at least one of said members away from its associated contact to break the circuit between said lastnamed member and contact while completing the circuit by short circuiting through the element.

7. In a device for determining the impedance of an external circuit, in combination, a conductor between the terminals of the external circuit including relatively movable, normally co-engaging metallic members forming switch means, a plurality of spaced, calibrated elements, and means for selectively bringing said elements into engagementwithone of said members to break the circuit between said members while completing the circuit by short circuiting through the element.

8. In a switch, a pair of spaced switch members and contacts therefor in the circuit to be con trolled by the switch, said members being normally in engagement with said contacts, a plurality of spaced calibrated elements, and means for selectively bringing said elements into engagement with said members to move at least one of said members away from its associated contact to break the circuit between said lastnamed switch member and contact, the element being adapted to form a conductor between said switch members to complete the circuit by short circuiting through said element.

9. In a switch, a conductor in the circuit to be controlled by the switch including normally co-engaging switch and contact means, a plurality of elements, and means mounting said elements as a unit operable to selectively bring said elements into engagement with said switch means to break the circuit between said switch means and said contact means while completing the circuit by short circuiting through the element.

J. EDMUND HAYES. 

